Q: I exercise daily, watch diet, eat very healthy – wife a nutritionist – take threee blood
pressure medicines by a great Dr. who lowered it to 135/93 best ever in 10 years –
still not low enough without ending my love life at 60 – any vitamin/herbal suggestions?
A: Herbs and supplements may help but the scientific evidence is not clear they are helpful. This is not true about the Resperate. It is a non-drug alternative that has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure. In addition to lowering pressure, many users report better sleeping and less anxiety.
Further Reading:
What is RESPeRATE? – RESPeRATE.com
RESPeRATE User Reviews – RESPeRATE.com
I have found great success using Hibiscus from a company Wellmates. Contrary to Dr. Rowena’s statement there is alot of scientific evidence that Hibiscus flower helps to lower BP. She is just trying to sell her produce Resperate . Hibiscus has as much scientific published evidence as the Resperate. Just do a Google search and the evidence pops up. I have been able to cut my BP meds in half with Hibiscus that does not have any side effects. Wellmates.com is the site where I buy it. 50.00 for 3 months supply. Good luck
I 79 yrs male with a 30yr history of BP problems
I was on tenormin and my dr change it To Bystolic
and I developed problems swallowing. I started taking Hawthron berries 256mg I take two and make
a tea in cup of hot water. The source of Swanson’s
Vitamins in North Dakota and it keeps my BP normal.
I take frequent reading, also my heart rate is normal and donot fatigue easy. Now I can run and play tag with my grandson. I do not need RX meds!!
While I do read postings by Dr. R here, I pay no attention to the excessive promotion of RESPERATE, something I would never buy.
When discussing alternatives with my Doc…she said Resperate is a waste…that your bp may go down when using it (and right after) but not a real fix…just a temporary manipulation. But then again, my Doc insist I should take as many pharma pills as it takes. I want to fix the cause, not hide it/cover it up/treat the symptons (not the cause) while I endure the side effects
Used Resperate for three years and I can’t say that it was that good, but it did relax me. Beetroot juice works and it’s been proven, only problem is that it,s expensive.
spent $200 on a resperate machine and it did not work for me. i gave it everything i had.
Theres also fungi supplements/teas, like Cordyceps, Shitake, Reishi, Maitake that Asian doctors have been using for years that can help also. Cordyceps increases your circulation plus it actually helps your libido. Hawthorne has been shown in some studies to lower blood pressure after one month of usage as a tea. The issue here is that the FDA will never ever regulate natural forms of drugs which have been known for centuries to work. They only regulate Pharma drugs. You have to first find the root cause of the blood pressure like anything to find some kind of cure for it.
I was told that Apple cider vinegar very good for lowering the bloodpressure, I was on Lonizipril but have the side effect of the dry cought, now I am trying the Apple vinegar to see if this works….
tried the vinegar thing. yuck! two or three different ways.
and no it did not work.
use a tablespoon honey tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with meal kicks you in low gear
I also don’t really like the promotion of the Resperate, but I have to say that I have had success with the device. I bought it because it made a certain amount of sense, at least for some people whose bp is connected to their reaction to stress and anxiety. It DOES cause you to relax, which in turn, does bring down your bp. I also agree that the natural remedies have value as well and I am glad there are people who are willing to share the ones that they have had success with.
Try meditation. I do only 5min. in the a.m. and 5min. at night and have gone from about 150/90 to about 120/70 consistently since doing daily meditation.
Cindy thats incredible how many days did you do your 5 min. meditations for
As several others have commented, I don’t like Respirate due to the initial cost which is probably WAAAAAY overpriced for BIG PROFITS and comfortable, “life of Riley” type living in Florida or California like most supplement peddlers. It could probably be sold at one tenth [1/10] the price and they’d still make a profit, just as much as they want.
On the other hand, I do NOT DOUBT the effectiveness of the Respirate machine as for years I do relaxation meditation, and it combined with concious breathing control does lower my BP. From what I’ve learned of Respirate [from its promotional info], it’s nothing more than an expensive form of meditation.
However, my meditation lowering of BP is only temporary for a short while after, AND I SUSPECT the same thing is true of the Respirate technique. Thus, one would have to use the Respriate OFTEN to maintain low BP, AND WHO has the time for that.
Hell, IF I meditated say 10 minutes of every waking hour, then I wouldn’t need the medications, Respirate, OR the supplements. But no one can spend all their time in relaxation and meditation. You gotta work sometime.
I have had some success using Hibiscus also but my best reduction now comes from Hesperidin. It comes from the white part of citris fruits. I dropped my BP from 160/85 to 113/73 to 125/80. No side effects except it makes me hungry. It is very inexpensive also. You can find it online. Swanson has it for $3.99 a bottle.
For Cholest: Take Red yeast rice from Costco about 16.00, and garlic oil 1000mg from th 99cent store.
For BP Hawthron berries from swanson vitamin(just google.)
For Prostate: Prostate Combo from Swanson and also stinging neetle.
For sleep: Mucuna pruriens (source of L-Dopa)
Sleep aid(Doxylamine (succinate)25mg
Melathonin 1mg
5 HTP
Try and see what or which combination works for you.
After taking take a few days off to insure you not to
over dose on any .
This is the way that I manage my chronic problems that arise with age. Note: I have tests for cholest,PSA I have seen improvements (normal range.
Also clinical improvements on the above subjests.
Respectfully, Jose Yglesias CLS,ASCP ( please pass the info on.
Trigs,HDL,
Thank you very much for this information. Very helpful. Do you know something for liver enzymes that are too high ? AST= 32 and ALT= 57.
It would be very appreciated.
I’ve read that pomegranate juice will lower liver enzymes, also a herb Astragalus. I’ve taken Astragalus for years, also helps the immune system. Just get a good brand.
I have been able to lower my BP 30 points by doing all of the following:
-avoiding alcohol
-managing sodium intake to 1300 mg/day. You must read food labels for sodium content and avoid restaurants
-eating lots of fresh fruit and veggies
– exercising and loosing weight (eat less calories)
There is no magic or mystery to lowering BP. It takes self discipline. If you want to be healty, it is a no brainer. You just have to do it.
I have had a difficult time finding the right meds to control my bp. I have struggled with white coat syndrome as well. I tried Resperate with good success using 15 mins/day, 3 or 4 times/wk. HOWEVER, when the device needed repair, I stopped using it. Like Cindy, I just started doing my own kind of meditation, just breathing in for a count of 5, holding for a count of 4, then exhaling for a count of 7. Johnny is right too, meditation is cheaper than an expensive device and it works!
I take 20mg of benicar and 2 coq 100mg with L-carnitine a day, my benicar at night, coq am and pm. It helps keep mine near normal. how do you just go off the meds to the natural stuff?
You could not have come to a more ignorant person on supplements than Dr. Rowena and her staff. I have seen her misinformed answers on supplements time and again. Natural remedies seem to be an anathema to those trained in medicine by the powerful drug companies.
Perhaps a visit to a good naturopathic physician will bring alternatives and answers that the AMA will without question either be completely ignorant of, or will choose to overlook.
Good luck!
Respirate does not work for every one, but I have found it helpful. And after awhile you get the breathing patterns down and can use them for short or long period. I now use the Respirate occasionally to keep the patterns consistent. I also have found that Beet Root Juice, available in most health food stores is effective. I take two tablespoonsful in the A.M. before breakfast. While my b/p fluctuates a bit it is usually in the acceptable range. Depends on stress and other health issues.
I have been trying a small glass of beetroot and apple juice every day – all natural stuff – and I don’t know if it’s a coincidence but my blood pressure is much lower. I am on Ramipril 1.25 mg (have come down from 10 mg) and am hoping to come right off it. I also exercise a lot and after exercise my blood pressure can be as low as 125/75 so I’m well pleased.
Healthy, REAL/WHOLE Food (as close to vegetarian as possible), along with awareness of the sodium, cholesterol, fat and SUGAR intake leads to weight loss, which leads to LOWER Blood Pressure. That’s how I did it. Lost 35 lbs, have kept it off for almost 4 years; got off my BP meds, and my BP average has been 117/72, and I deal with anxiety all the time. It can be done. You ARE what you EAT.
I’d really like to know how you lost 35lbs. I’m 67 years young and my doctor has insisted I loose 20lbs. I weigh 140 and 4’10”. I agree with her but I can’t seem to lose anything with all the food changes I’ve made and the exercises I’m doing.
Amen to Whole food diets. I’d call it aggressive nutritonal intervention. Drugs do not solve the root cause. The root cause is reversing artherosclerosis. Fruits, vegetables and no animal protein do this naturally. For BP, limit caffeine and alcohol also, and get plenty of vigorous exercise. Down to 115/64 in about 3 months and am now off drugs.
I love and agree with your comment because I believe, “you are what you eat”. Blood pressure has been my problem for years. I want to get off of the meds and drop the BP naturally. I believe the Resperate could be a good trainer, establishing the right breathing patterns needed to reach my goal. I do, however, agree that the cost of the mechanism is far too high; to the point of discouragement. I am doing well eliminating meat and adding Hawthorne Berry and Wheatgrass. I will monitor and pray that this beginning will lower BP significantly, and work with my MD to get off of the Meds.
I too take hawthorn in the form of tea,I also take beetroot and apple juice which I juice myself together with wheatgrass juice and green smoothies. I am 73 yrs young and have seen my BP come down from 185/95 to 120/75 and now never goes higher than 135/80. I do use Resperate but not all the time as I want to see if it truly makes a difference. I really think that exercise healthy eating cutting out smoking and alchohol and meat is the best thing to do.
BChristine is right on! I lost 30 LB’s and now have my BP under control. There is only one oil to be used very sparingly,EVOO. CUT the intake of Saturated Fat, animal flesh, and dairy. All processed foods should be avoided, hence, Less Sodium. Eliminate white sugar & flour. Reduce intake of grains to a very occasional whole grain product. Eat all the whole foods you desire, Veggies, fruits, beans, seeds and reasonable amount of nuts to cover essential fat needs.
Several months ago I purchased Resperate. I used it for a few weeks and returned it. It will definitely help those who do not or don’t believe in the benefits of meditation however, I do meditate and felt that I didn’t need to spend that kind of cash on a device that tells me how to do something that I already know how to do. Sit down, relax, breathe.